BROOKFIELD - The national debate over intelligent design, an alternative to the theory of evolution in explaining how the universe formed, came to town Monday.

The occasion was a candidates' forum in the Brookfield High School library for anyone running for election next month. It was sponsored by the Brookfield League of Women Voters.
While candidates for the board of education did not claim to have the answers about how life began, most have an idea what they want students to be taught.
Candidate Belinda Samuel thinks intelligent design should be considered for the science curriculum.
"It would foster a lot of creative thinking from students," Samuel said. "Darwin's theory was first met with being banned. Some are greeting intelligent design the same way."
Samuel and other candidates did not volunteer their opinion on the matter, but responded to a question from the audience.
The theory shouldn't be banned from schools, but it should be taught in a philosophy or in a comparative religion class, said Robert Marconi, a candidate for one of the three four-year positions open on the board.
"Leave science in the science class and philosophy in the philosophy class," Marconi said. "You can believe God created the universe and still believe it took millions and billions of years to evolve to the way it is now."
Intelligent design is based on the belief that DNA molecules and the Earth's structure are too complex to have simply evolved with time. While it does not argue biblical creationism, the theory says an intelligent designer had to be involved. That is contrary to the theory of evolution advanced by Charles Darwin in 1859.
The Dover Area School District in Pennsylvania began teaching about intelligent design last year, which prompted a lawsuit from 11 parents claiming a violation of the Constitutional prohibition against an establishment of a state religion. The case is being heard in federal court.
In Brookfield this year, four candidates are competing for three seats on the board that have a four-year term. They are Marconi, Wayne D'Orio, Rob Gianazza and Daria Rockholz. Belinda Samuel and Richard Groski are running for the one open two-year term.
Gianazza said the theory should be a part of a science class, if it is taught at all. "It wouldn't work in a theological class," he said. "It's a point of view about how did cells ... become human beings?"
Gianazza said since intelligent design is not part of the current curriculum, considerable community input would be needed for the board to consider it in the future.
D'Orio, now serving a two-year term and chairman of the board's curriculum subcommittee, said, "Certainly I would look at the scientific evidence behind intelligent design. I wouldn't overlook any scientific argument, but I haven't heard one yet."
Groski, who was not at the forum Monday, left a written statement in advance saying he opposes teaching intelligent design in the absence of scientific support.
Rockholz also rejects teaching it in science classrooms.
"I would not give it equal treatment to evolution," she said. "I would see it as a theory to be taught in philosophy classes."

Board candidates for the three open four-year terms are:
Robert Marconi (D).
Wayne D'Orio (D).
Rob Gianazza (R).
Daria Rockholz (R).
Competing for the open two-year term:
Richard Groski (D).
Belinda Samuel (R).